Research

Research is an essential part of a scientific degree. Our faculty collaborates with colleagues locally and abroad to tackle the global challenges facing health, security, and sustainability. Designated an R1 National Research University, our portfolio boasts major funding from grants, philanthropy, and industry partners.

Join INVEST! A new Junior Faculty Program

Our innovative INVEST program is a new approach to faculty hiring. If you are completing your PhD or at an early stage of your postdoctoral training, you may be interested in this accelerated pathway to tenure-track faculty appointments.

INVEST program hiring for 2022-2023 is now open.

Apply today

Postdoctoral Training Program

Postdoctoral researchers drive discovery in fundamental and use-inspired research in each of the 6 departments in the College of Science at Northeastern University.

The COS Postdoctoral Research Program is personalized for each postdoctoral researcher’s needs and aspirations. In addition to rich research experiences with our faculty members, our postdocs have comprehensive professional development support for a variety of career paths.

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Science Fellows Program

The Northeastern Science Fellows Program offers exceptional junior scientists the opportunity to develop independent research programs, as an alternative to traditional postdoctoral training. 

The Fellows Program thus provides a powerful pathway to an independent faculty career. Newly qualified PhD recipients with an outstanding track record of high-impact research, and with ideas and potential for an independent research program will be considered. Candidates may have a history of successful fellowship funding.

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Center for Research Innovation

The Center for Research Innovation serves as the nexus of inspiration and invention, empowering Northeastern innovators and entrepreneurs to transform their boldest ideas into societal impact. Agile and responsive, the CRI protects, accelerates, and translates university innovations into tangible solutions through licensing, venture creation, and industry collaboration.

CRI Spark Fund

The CRI Spark Fund helps Northeastern researchers bridge the gap between promising lab results and demonstrating a commercially viable prototype. Our grants and programs catalyze state-of-the-art technologies, advancing Northeastern inventions through prototyping, validation, and industry input.

One year, $50,000

Awards support commercially valuable inventions (from any field) in earlier stages of development.

VALIDATION AWARDS: For inventions at Technology Readiness Levels 2 – 3, successful applicants will have formulated novel concepts, applications, methods or compositions and partially validated their theories. In the life sciences, experimental proof-of-concept has been established via in vitro results. In all other fields, laboratory-based studies and validating strategies should be underway.
COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE AWARDS: Technology Readiness Levels 4 – 5.

For successful life science applicants, the invention has been validated in vitro with in vivo testing underway or complete. For all other fields, technologies are approaching near final commercial performance and will use the Spark Fund to complete minimum viable commercial products.

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College of Science Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

The College of Science Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes and rewards outstanding Northeastern College of Science faculty for excellence in teaching.  These teaching awards were established to confer honor upon individuals whose inspiration and contributions to student learning are truly significant. The award is presented annually. Each awardee receives a certificate and $1000. Up to three faculty may be selected each year. Find a list of all winners below.

Missy McElligott

Missy McElligott, a professor of biology, is a 2016 and 2021 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award. She is also a 2016 nominee and 2021 winner of the Northeastern University Award.

Jude Matthews

Jude Matthews, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is a 2021 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Richard Bailey

Richard Bailey, a professor of marine and environmental sciences, is a 2021 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Prasanth George

Prasanth George, a professor of mathematics, is a 2020 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Oyinda Oyelaran

Oyinda Oyelaran, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is a 2020 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Anne Van de Ven-Maloney

Anne Van de Ven-Maloney, a professor of physics, is a 2019 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Dori Woods

Dori Woods, a professor of biology, is a 2019 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Rein Kirss

Rein Kirss, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is a 2019 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award and a nominee for the Northeastern University Award.

Thomas Kelley

Thomas Kelley, a professor of physics, is a 2018 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Yunrong Chai

Yunrong Chai, a professor of biology, is a 2018 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

James Monaghan

James Monaghan, a professor of biology, is a 2018 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award and winner of the Northeastern University Award.

Brent Nelson

Brent Nelson, a professor of physics, is a 2017 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Dawn Cisewski

Dawn Cisewski, a professor of psychology, is a 2016 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award and a nominee for the Northeastern University Award.

Kirsten Fertuck

Kirsten Fertuck, a professor of Biology, is a 2022 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Heather Littlefield

Heather Littlefield, a professor of Linguistics, is a 2022 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award.

Dessy Raytcheva

Dessy Raytcheva, a professor of Biology, is a 2022 recipient of the College of Science Teaching Award. She is also a recipient of the 2022 Northeastern University Excellence in Teaching Award.